The US Navy has delivered the first CASA CN-235 converted for maritime patrol missions to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The conversion of the transport aircraft for specialized missions was financed by the United States.
According to the US Navy's Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the effort was facilitated by the Building Partner Capacity program, aligned with the US Maritime Security Initiative, which aims to help the Malaysian government increase maritime security and awareness. maritime domain within the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone.
The first of three RMAF patrol CN-235s was transferred about three and a half years after the US signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the project. According to the statement, the project to convert the cargo aircraft to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) was carried out by the RMAF in cooperation with the Office of Security Cooperation of NAVAIR and the Aircraft Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWCAD) AIRWorks .
The upgrade includes an unspecified marine surveillance mission suite, marine surveillance radar, an electro-optical infrared turret, line-of-sight datalink and a roll-on/roll-off mission system operator station. Compatible fixed and mobile ground stations are also being provided to enhance the RMAF's ISR capability.
“Our collective international team overcame enormous challenges during the recent worldwide pandemic to deliver this capability. We are excited to deliver this first aircraft.” said Gerald Swift, who leads AIRWorks, the NAWCAD office focused on delivering rapid and effective warfighting capability to meet the immediate and emerging needs of warfighters.
The first CN-235 (licensed manufactured in Indonesia by Perseroan Terbatas Dirgantara Indonesia) was tested in September 2020, amidst the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first flight of the updated aircraft was in October of the following year. The Navy expects to complete the modernization of the two remaining aircraft in 2022.
Maritime patrol CN-235s will be operated by No. 1 Squadron RMAF from Kuching Air Base. The unit already operates seven other CN-235s, also converted to this function. Malaysia also already has three King Air B200Ts for patrol, in addition to having already used the C-130H freighter on the same mission. The Hercules, however, lacked the specialized systems for the job.
In addition to the new CN-235s, Malaysia is waiting for the delivery of boeing scaneagle drones for the Navy.
With information SHIP e Defense News.
